WISCASSET — The Sheepscot River Race will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the Sherman Rest Area in Newcastle and finish at Wiscasset’s recreational pier.
The fastest competitors will complete the race in about 45 minutes and recreational racers could take up to two hours. At the end of the race, long-time race organizer, Scott Shea, will present the winner in each category with one of Christopher Augustus’ miniature hulls. “We wanted to give something to our winners,” said Shea, “that would be special and represent this specific race.”
The award, as crafted by Augustus, can be worn around the neck. It will be sleek and streamlined, and expertly finished. Years ago, Augustus’ first foray into craftsmanship was designing and creating prostheses. Next came cuisine and developing the skills of an accomplished chef. Then, working with wood to design and build sea kayaks and small boats. Today, Augustus, who is based in Seal Cove, uses his refined woodworking skills to create meticulous reproductions of classic antique fish lures.
The lures are reproductions of early 1900s to 1950s antique, patented fish lures. This was the golden age for wood lures in the U.S., Augustus said. “After the 1950s, plastics dominated the market. So that 50-year period is the heyday of the wood fish lure.” Each lure he creates has a distinct name, a history and a back-story that’s noteworthy, he said, to a fisherman or lure collector.
To see Augustus’ Heirloom Lures collection, visit heirloomlures.com. To meet the artist and see his work in person, attend the Nickels-Sortwell House craft show from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, in Wiscasset Village.
For more information about the race, contact Scott Shea at info@seaspraykaying.com or 751-3450.
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